Pepsi Announces A Change To Artificial Sweetener In Diet Sodas

The consumers asked for it and PepsiCo is the first U.S. diet soda brand to deliver, as they announced they would no longer be using the artificial sweeter aspartame in their diet sodas beginning later this year. This is huge news, especially since they are the first major U.S. brand to start doing this, which should take affect in August.

In a statement from Seth Kaufman, senior vice president of Pepsi and Flavors Portfolio, PepsiCo North America Beverages, said: “Diet cola drinkers in the U.S. told us they wanted aspartame-free Diet Pepsi and we’re delivering. We recognize that consumer demand is evolving and we’re confident that cola-lovers will enjoy the crisp, refreshing taste of this new product.”

In place of the aspartame, it looks like Diet Pepsi, Caffeine-Free Diet Pepsi and Wild Cherry Diet Pepsi will be sweetened using sucralose and ace-K and executives say they will all have the same great taste.

Kaufman did go on to say that this move is based on consumer preference and not safety issues from the side affects of aspartame, which one medical expert agreed with: “Aspartame’s safety in the quantities the general public consumes has been established as safe many, many times over.”

This plan only affects the Diet Pepsi flavors and no announcement concerning their other flavors, like Diet Mountain Dew.